Osteopathic medicine is one of the two pathways to becoming a fully licensed physician in the United States. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) practise alongside MDs, prescribe medication, perform surgery, and complete the same residencies — they simply train through a parallel curriculum that adds osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and a whole-person treatment philosophy. There are now 46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States, delivering instruction across 73 teaching locations in 36 states (source: AACOM).
Together they educate more than 38,000 future physicians — close to 30% of all US medical students. This guide ranks 20 of the strongest osteopathic medical schools in the world, plus the key admissions and tuition information you need before applying.
What Is an Osteopathic Medical School?
An osteopathic medical school is a four-year tertiary institution that grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. DOs and MDs practise the same medicine in the United States — same residencies, same licensing exams (USMLE / COMLEX), same scope of practice — but DO students also complete around 200 hours of training in osteopathic manipulative treatment, a hands-on diagnostic and therapeutic technique focused on the musculoskeletal system.
Most schools also award additional degrees: PhD, Master of Public Health, Master of Medical Science, Doctor of Pharmacy, and physician-assistant programmes. Outside the US, “osteopathy” is taught as a separate allied-health profession (not equivalent to a medical doctor) in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
The 20 Best Osteopathic Medical Schools
1. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
The only DO school routinely placing in the US News top 50 medical schools for primary care. Three campuses (East Lansing, Detroit, Macomb) and the largest matriculation pool of any single DO programme in the country.
2. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
The oldest osteopathic medical school in Pennsylvania (founded 1899) and one of the largest by enrolment. Three locations: Philadelphia, Suwanee (Georgia), and Moultrie (Georgia). Strong tracks in primary care, surgery, and emergency medicine. Address: 4170 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131.
3. Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM)
Iowa-based and consistently top-ranked for academic outcomes. DMU-COM moved to a new West Des Moines campus in 2024 and offers the DO alongside Master of Public Health, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Master of Health Care Administration tracks. Website: dmu.edu/com.
4. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
Four campuses across Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, and Louisiana. VCOM’s mission is rural and medically underserved primary care, and its match list reflects that — most graduates head to primary care residencies in the South-East.
5. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
The largest medical school in the United States by enrolment, with campuses in Erie (Pennsylvania), Bradenton (Florida), Greensburg (Pennsylvania), and Elmira (New York). Offers DO, PharmD, and DDS programmes; pioneered the three-year accelerated DO track.
6. Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Part of Ohio University, founded in 1975, with three campuses (Athens, Dublin, Cleveland). The only osteopathic medical school in the state of Ohio. Strong primary-care match outcomes and a long-running rural-medicine pipeline.
7. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM)
A public DO school in Lewisburg, West Virginia, with one of the highest first-choice residency match rates in the country (over 60%). Mission focused on rural and family-medicine practice.
8. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
A private, non-profit DO school with campuses in Central Harlem (New York City), Middletown (New York), and Great Falls (Montana). Focused on increasing the number of physicians from underrepresented backgrounds and serving urban and rural underserved communities.
9. Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1976; one of the few public DO schools. Joint programmes include DO/JD (with Rutgers Law) and DO/MPH. New Jersey-based, with affiliated rotations across the Philadelphia metro.
10. University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM)
Maine’s only medical school and the leading source of physicians for the state. More than 60% of UNECOM graduates practise in primary care — Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics. Founded 1978 in Biddeford.
11. Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Indiana’s first medical school in 110 years (founded 2013). Welcomes students of all faiths and emphasises a curriculum oriented toward patient-centred and primary-care practice.
12. Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Christian-mission DO school in Lynchburg, Virginia. Newer programme (founded 2014) but already producing competitive match results, with a faith-based pastoral care component built into the curriculum.
13. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM)
Founded 2013 as the first osteopathic medical school in Alabama. Mission focused on patient-centred primary care for the medically underserved across the South-East.
14. William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM)
Mississippi-based DO school accredited in 2014. Inaugural class achieved a 98% post-graduate placement rate; subsequent classes have continued to match strongly into primary care and emergency medicine. Website: wmcarey.edu.
15. University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Established 1997. Focused on training physicians for the Appalachian region of Kentucky and surrounding states; one of the highest in-state match rates among DO programmes.
16. Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded 2013 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The only DO school serving the New Mexico–Texas border region. Tuition is roughly $60,000–$66,000 per year, in line with the DO national average.
17. Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Private programme in Lillington, North Carolina, founded 2011. Tuition runs around $58,000 per year. Strong Mid-Atlantic and South-East match list.
18. Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1916 — one of the oldest DO schools in the country. Two campuses (Kansas City, Missouri and Joplin, Missouri), with strong rural and underserved-community placement outcomes.
19. Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
California-based DO school with two campuses (Pomona, California and Lebanon, Oregon). Among the most competitive admissions of any DO programme; strong residency placements in California and the Pacific North-West.
20. Victoria University, Australia
A public Australian university (founded 1916) offering a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy) followed by a Master of Health Science (Osteopathy). Note: Australian and UK osteopathy is allied-health practice — graduates are not licensed as medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication or perform surgery the way US DOs can.
Average DO Tuition
Based on AACOM and CollegeTuitionCompare data for the 2024–25 cycle, average DO tuition runs:
- In-state students (public schools): ~$56,000 per year
- Out-of-state / private schools: ~$60,000 per year
- Total four-year cost of attendance: ~$405,000 (tuition + fees + housing + books + insurance)
How to Choose the Right DO School
1. Check accreditation first
Only schools accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) grant a DO degree that qualifies you for US licensure. The full list is on the AACOM website.
2. Compare acceptance rates honestly
DO admissions average around 30% acceptance, but the most competitive programmes (Western U, Michigan State, PCOM) sit closer to 6–10%. Apply broadly — the AACOMAS centralised application allows up to 14 schools per cycle.
3. Check match outcomes, not just rankings
The most useful single number is the school’s residency match rate and the percentage of graduates entering competitive specialties. Schools publish this in their match list each spring.
4. Cost of attendance, not just tuition
Tuition is one line in your cost. Add fees, housing, books, board exam fees (USMLE Steps and COMLEX cost about $5,000 in total), and away-rotation travel. Compare schools on total four-year COA.
5. Mission alignment
DO schools are mission-driven (rural primary care, urban underserved, faith-based, biomedical research). Apply where the mission matches what you want to do, not just where rankings suggest you should.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DO equivalent to an MD?
In the United States, yes. DOs and MDs hold equivalent practice rights, attend the same residencies (the GME match was unified in 2020), and pass the same licensing exams. The difference is the additional 200 hours of OMM training in DO school.
How many osteopathic medical schools are there in the United States?
46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, delivering instruction at 73 teaching locations across 36 states.
What percentage of US doctors are DOs?
DOs make up about 11% of all practising physicians in the United States, and that share is rising — DO students are now close to 30% of all US medical students.
Can I become a DO outside the United States?
US DOs are recognised in roughly 60 countries, including Canada, Australia, the UK, and most of the EU. Some countries (notably much of mainland Europe) require additional licensing exams. Australian and UK “osteopaths” are not US-equivalent physicians.
What is the average MCAT and GPA for DO schools?
Mean accepted MCAT for the most recent cycle is around 504, and mean GPA around 3.59. Both numbers are slightly below the MD national averages but rising year on year.
How long is DO school?
Four years for the DO itself, followed by 3–7 years of residency depending on the specialty.
Does the DO degree allow you to specialise in surgery?
Yes. DOs match into every speciality including general surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and ophthalmology, although the most competitive of these have lower DO match rates than MD match rates.
Read also: cheapest medical schools in the world for international students.